Container with resilient support for firearms



June 29, 1954 K. E. JOY

CONTAINER WITH RESILIENT SUPPORT FOR FIREARMS Filed May 29, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Kent-1:2 :11 E J25 BY I f1 Wm M! Mfg; WM

A i iur'neys June 29, 1954 K, E, JOY 2,682,439

CONTAINER WITH RESILIENT SUPPORT FOR FIREARMS Filed May 29, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m R m M g m WK r m Mum a. m 00 A 2 e M v 7 w 1 2 a f s 2 BT 3 I 7/r/k/k Q I I w m J I 6 x 2 m a", W 4 7 A: 51 9 J Patented June 29, 1954 OFFICE CONTAINER WITH RESILIENT SUPPORT FOR FIREARMS Kenneth E. Joy, Vienna, Va.

Application May 29, 1951, Serial No. 228,959

8 Claims.

(Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952),

see. 266) The present invention relates to a novel container for receiving a light artillery piece, such as cal. .50 machine gun, so that the gun may be conveniently shipped by air and dropped from a plane at its point of destination.

The container of'my invention, briefly, comprises a cylindrical member having novel gasketed sealing closures at either end. which are easily removable. Each closure member includes a bell shaped retainer member, recessed to cradle the barrel of the gun on one end and the gun oil buffer assembly on the other end. The recess in each retainer member also contains a coil spring which is compressed by the gun when in position to act as a shock absorber. Also attached to the container by means of stamped ring at a point remote from the center of gravity of the stowed gun is an air drop wing assembly, which in folded position may be used as a pallet for the container, but which in unfolded position acts as brake in the precipitous descent of the container. The wing, when unfolded is angularly disposed relative to a transverse plane passed through the container, so that air resistance will provide a torque to the container in descending and its path will simulate the undulating descent of a maple leaf. This will enable the container to strike the ground on its side rather than on end, to ease the impact on the gun.

The beforementioned advantages of my invention as well as other advantages and objects will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the container showing the air drop wing assembly in stowed position.

Figure 2 is a partial elevation of the container similar to Figure 1, but turned 90 degrees, with the wing in unfolded position, and showing the spring clip secured to the container for latching the wing in stowed position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container with the wing partially unfolded, and showing the wing stop.

Figure 4 is a top view of the container showing the wing clamp.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a transverse Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a transverse section on line 'l'! of Figure 5.

section on line 66 of Figures 8 and 9 are modifications showing variations in the form of thegasket of the sealing closure member.

Referring to the drawings, my invention comprises a sheet metal tubular member having similar closure assemblies 2 on either end. Closure assembly 2 comprises a dished shaped outer cover 3, recessed at 4, and having a flange 5 to eifect a tight fit about the container. The cover has an opening 6, and extending through the opening is a bolt 1 which is secured in any convenient manner to a bell cup retainer 3. Cover 3 and bell cup 3 are axially spaced relative to one another and a preformed neoprene or rubber gasket 9 is disposed in said space. The gasket has an outer diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of tubular member, thus when wing nut I0 is tightened upon bolt i, an air tight fit results. Wing nut Ill is disposed in recess 4 and is protected thereby from snapping off or deforming in the event the container lands on its end. A gasket retainer sleeve 3! is concentrically disposed about bolt I and is spot welded to bell cup retainer 8 and acts as a spacer between closure 3 and cup 8.

Bell cup retainer 8 is recessed at H to form a well. A coil spring 12 is spot welded to the bot- 1 tom of well ll, so that when the machine gun is placed within the container and the closures are applied to the container ends, the barrel portion of the gun will be received in the well of the bell cup retainer on one end, and the oil buffer assembly will be received in the well of the bell cup retainer at the other end. The springs will be compressed and will act as shock absorbers to maintain the gun in floating position upon impact.

An additional center support for the gun barrel comprises a first disc l3 and a second disc M spaced therefrom by means of a nut :5 which may be welded to disc M and a bolt it threaded into nut l5. Disc [3 has a centrally located opening and the edge surrounding the opening is rounded and turned through degrees so that the flange forms a bearing surface which rests against the barrel of the gun to act as a guide and support for said barrel. Disc Ill also has a centrally disposed opening with the edge resting upon the flanges of disc I3. The outer peripheral edges of discs l3 and 14 are turned outwardly to form a Y and a half round neoprene or rubber gasket 32 is disposed within the Y, its flattened surface making a tight fit with the inner wall of the container.

The air drop Wing assembly is secured to the container at a point remote from the center of gravity of the stowed gun by means of a split ring clamp l! which is flanged at [8 to accommodate the clamp nut and bolt 19. A hinge bracket 20 is welded to clamp l1, and hinge 2| is made fast to hinge bracket 20 by means of hinge pin 22. The wing 23, which may be of fiber board or of a light metal such as aluminum, is secured to the hinge so that it can be folded into position as shown in Figure 5, spring clip 24 serving to act as a latch to retain the wing in this position. When so folded the wing is used as a pallet so that the containers may be easily and conveniently stored for shipping purposes.

As clearly shown in Figure 1, the hinge is angularly disposed relative to a transverse plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said container, so that when the wing is unfolded it will be slightly tilted with respect to transverse plane. The hinge is provided with a stop 25 which bears against the hinge bracket 20 when the wing is unfolded so that the longitudinal axis of the wing will be normal to the side wall of the container at the point of connection. Before the container is dropped from a plane, the spring clip is pulled back to release the wing, the air resistance will force the wing to its fully unfolded position, and the aerodynamic forces acting on the wing will give to the container a gyratory motion similar to the undulating path taken by a maple leaf in descent. At the same time air resistance will impede the precipitous descent of the container to ease the impact when it hits the ground. Also the container will have a tendency to fall on its side and skid along the ground, and the gun will be protected by the coiled spring shock absorbers as well as by the rubber gaskets.

Ihe bell cup retainer 8 may be filled with a desiccant 26 such as silica gel. The bottom 21 of bell cup retainer 8 has 3 screened openings 28 and a fourth plugged opening 29. The silica gel is introduced into the bell cup retainer through plugged opening 29, the screened openings 28 permitting the silica gel to dehumidify the interior of the container. Openings 30 are provided in discs [3 and [4 also for this purpose. Disposed about the container at each end at a point slightly removed from the closure assembly outer covers 3 are stamped metal grommets 33, which are tightly secured in any convenient manner about the outside of the container. The outer periphery of these grommets are made irregular to stop the container from rolling.

Figures 8 and 9 are modifications of the bell cup retainer, gasket and cover assemblies. modifications are identical with the species disclosed in Figure 5, with the exception that Figure 8 discloses rubber gasket 9 which is circular, whereas Figure 9 discloses preformed rubber gasket 9" of a slightly different shape than gasket 9 in Figure 5.

Numerous other modifications and alterations of the structure which has been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and it is obvious that the same may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

The invention described in the specification and claims may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

I claim:

1. A container for a machine gun comprising These an elongated tubular member, dish shaped covers removably engaging each end of said tubular member, a bell cup retainer member inwardly axially spaced from and secured to each said cover, a gasket interposed in the space between each said cover and said bell cup retainer and sealingly engaging the inner wall of said tubular member, the first said bell cup retainer having a recess in the bottom thereof having a helical spring received therein for resiliently cradling the muzzle of said machine gun, and the second said bell cup retainer having a similar recess and including a helical spring received therein for resiliently cradling the oil buffer assembly of said machine gun.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 including additional intermediate support for the barrel of said machine gun, said support comprising first and second axially spaced discs disposed within said container, said discs having coextensive centrally located apertures for supporting the barrel of said machine gun, means for secur ing said discs to each other, the peripheral edges of said discs being turned outwardly to form a Y, and a half round gasket received in said Y, said gasket providing seal tight engagement with the inner wall of said tubular member.

3. A container for storing and transporting a machine gun having a forwardly extending tubular barrel and a rearvvardly extending tubular oil buffer asembly comprising, an elongated tubular member, dished shaped covers having flanges for peripherally engaging each end of said tubular member, each said cover having a centrally disposed frusto-conical cavity provided with an axially located aperture, bell cup retainer members in said tube adjacent each end thereof, each said bell cup retainer member having a top wall axially spaced inwardly of said cover and a bottom wall having its central portion struck inwardly to form an axial recess, a screw secured to the top of each retainer member having a threaded end extending outwardly through each said aperture, a gasket interposed in the space between each said cover and said bell cup retainer sealingly engaging the inner wall of said tubular member, a Wing nut in each said frusto-conical cavity engaging each said screw, adapted to be tightened whereby each said gasket, cover and bell cup retainer provided airtight seals, the axial recess in one of said bell cup retainers ada ted to receive the barrel of said machine gun, and the other of said axial recesses adapted to receive said oil bufier assembly.

4. The combination in claim 3 including a compression spring in each said axial recess adapted to resiliently cushion said barrel and said oil buffer assembly.

5. The combination in claim 3 including a tubular sleeve spacer concentric with each said screw disposed between each said cover and said bell cup retainer.

6. The combination in claim 3 including a desiccant received in each said bell cup retainer, each said bell cup retainer having a plurality of screened openings formed circumferentially in the bottom wall thereof radially outwardly of each said axial recess.

7. The combination in claim 3 including additional intermediate support for the barrel of said machine gun, said support comprising first and second axially spaced discs in said container having central apertures for receiving the barrel of said machine gun, each said disc having a plurality of screened openings therein, means-for securing said discs together, the peripheral edges of said discs being turned outwardly to form a Y, and a half round gasket received in said Y and providing seal tight engagement with the inner wall of said tubular member.

8. A container for storing and transporting a machine gun having a forwardly extending tubular barrel and a rcarwardly extending tubular oil buifer assembly comprising, an elongated tubular member, dished shaped covers having flanges for peripherally engaging each end of said tubular member, each said cover having a centrally disposed frusto-conical cavity provided with an axially located aperture, bell cup retainer members in said tube adjacent each end thereof, each said bell cup retainer member having a top wall axially spaced inwardly of said cover and a bottom wall having its central portion struck inwardly to form an axial recess, a screw secured to the top of each retainer member having a threaded end extending outwardly through each said aperture, a gasket interposed in the space between each said cover and said bell cup retainer sealingly engaging the inner Wall of said tubular member, a wing nut in each said frusto-conical cavity engaging each said screw, adapted to be tightened whereby each said gasket, cover and bell cup retainer provide airtight seals, the axial recess in one of said bell cup retainers adapted to receive the barrel of said machine gun, and the other of said axial recesses adapted to receive said oil bufier assembly, a compression spring in each said axial recess adapted to resiliently cushion said barrel and said oil buffer assembly, a tubular sleeve spacer concentric with each said screw disposed between each said cover and said bell cup retainer, a desiccant in said bell cup retainer, each said bell cup retainer having a plurality of screened openings formed circumferentially in the bottom wall thereof radially outwardly of each said axial recess, and an intermediate support for the barrel of said machine gun, said support comprising first and second axially spaced discs in said container having central apertures for receiving said barrel, each said disc having a plurality of screened openings formed therein, means for securing said discs together, the peripheral edges of said discs being turned outwardly to form a Y, and a half round gasket received in said Y and providing seal tight engagement with the inner surface of said tubular member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,039,057 Huisveld et al. Mar. 3, 1914 1,113,415 Coughenour Oct. 13, 1914 1,901,957 Girclwood Mar. 21, 1933 2,417,331 Taylor et al. Mar. 11, 1947 2,450,992 Sanderson Oct. 12, 1948 2,486,711 Harris Nov. 1, 1949 2,494,170 Goldfield Jan. 10, 1950 2,603,347 Fish July 15, 1952 

